PERSONAL DATA: Born in Dayton, Ohio, on December 30, 1931. Died February 28, 1966, in St. Louis, Missouri, in the crash of a T-38 jet. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and two children.

EDUCATION: He attended Ohio State University from 1950 to 1952, and Texas Technological College from 1958 to 1960. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering with honors from Texas Tech; He had done graduate work at University of Southern California.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Phi Kappa Tau, Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi and the Daedalians

EXPERIENCE: Bassett was an Air Force Captain. He graduated from the Aerospace Research Pilot School and the Air Force Experimental Pilot School.

He served as an experimental test pilot and engineering test pilot in the Fighter Projects Office at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

He logged over 3,600 hours-flying time, including over 2,900 hours in a jet aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Bassett was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. In addition to participating in the overall astronaut-training program, he had specific responsibilities pertaining to training and simulators. On November 8, 1965, he was selected as pilot of the upcoming Gemini 9 mission. He died on February 28, 1966, in the crash of a T-38 jet.